Marino finds success as CLU and Westlake girls soccer coach

Frank Marino (center) gives a few instructions during the Westlake High girls soccer team practice Friday. Marino also coaches the Cal Lutheran women's soccer.

Ventura County Star

It all started at a video store.

Frank Marino's soccer coaching career has been filled with many twists and turns. But if not for a relationship established over movie rentals, Marino doesn't know what path he may have taken.

He may never have started coaching girls or been given his first varsity job at Westlake High.

He likely would never have become the Cal Lutheran women's soccer coach or even considered applying for the position.

But not only has Marino, 36, done all of that, he has experienced great success leading both programs simultaneously.

Marino coaches CLU in the fall and Westlake in the winter.

In the midst of his 13th season at Westlake, Marino has led the Warriors to eight Marmonte League titles and one CIF-Southern Section championship.

Westlake has finished first or second in league 11 of the last 12 seasons, including capturing the last four titles.

In Marino's four seasons at CLU, the Regals have captured three straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and established the three highest single-season win records in program history.

"The greatest thing about it all is I've had the privilege of coaching so many great players and having so many great mentors," Marino said. "Having that opportunity has made me a better coach and a better person. I am very grateful."

High on Marino's list is a former patron of Wendy Kimber Video in Newbury Park.

Marino started working there at age 15. He and three friends eventually bought the store right after graduating from Newbury Park High.

Lou Lichtl was a regular customer, and often stayed longer to talk with Marino.

"He was in there one day and he asked what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to be a teacher and coach," Marino said. "He was the athletic director at Royal at the time and gave me his business card. He said when I finish school I should give him a call and he would try to help me with a job."

After graduating from the University of La Verne, Marino returned to the county and began coaching junior varsity boys soccer at Newbury Park and Westlake.

He ran into Lichtl after a Westlake JV game one afternoon.

"By then he was the AD at Thousand Oaks and said when I finished my teaching credential and master's degree to give him a call," Marino said. "He gave me his business card again — this time from T.O. — and said he'll see what he could do."

A few months later, Lichtl became the AD at Westlake and had an opening for a girls varsity soccer coach. He encouraged Marino to apply.

"I was 24 years old and had never coached girls before. Westlake had won league like six straight years and was a premier high school job," Marino said. "There some great candidates, and I thought I had no shot."

But Lichtl remembered his first encounter with Marino at the video store and took a chance on hiring the up-and-coming coach.

"What struck me was his great nature and willingness to engage with his customers," said Lichtl, now the principal at Thousand Oaks. "Over time, we developed a friendship and I recall encouraging him to continue his studies and pursuit of a teaching credential and career. When he applied for the position at Westlake, I was impressed with his progress as well as with his overall knowledge in the sport of soccer. The results speak for themselves."

Marino is glad he's been able to reward Lichtl's faith in him.

"It was a risky hire, but he took a chance on me and was a man of his word," Marino said. "He stuck his neck out for me and had my back through some growing pains those first couple of years. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I would be where I'm at."

But Marino may have foresaw at least part of his future. He pursued his master's degree in education with an emphasis on female motivation.

"I wanted to learn more about coaching women and did the research and worked to understand it," Marino said. "Coaching women and girls is different than coaching guys. The way you talk to them and treat them is different. I think that is one of my strengths."

Westlake senior Arielle Ship would agree.

Ship moved to California from Colorado before her freshman year in high school, and part of her reason for attending Westlake was to play for Marino.

"I heard he was an amazing coach and he definitely has been," said Ship, who has committed to play for Cal. "He knows what he is talking about, and is very calm, collected and confident in what he says. All the girls perk up and listen to him whenever he talks. I love playing for him."

His dedication to both programs requires plenty of stamina because he also teaches three periods of social studies at Redwood Middle School and works in the Advancement Development Office at CLU.

The often 19-hour days might not matter to a bachelor, but Marino just became a father of four.

His wife, Megan, gave birth to their second son last Wednesday night.

"I do get tired, but being around high school and college kids keeps me young and keeps me excited," Marino said. "I really enjoy the relationship part of it and watching them grow and become better players and amazing people. It's really rewarding."Cal Lutheran athletic director Dan Kuntz admires Marino's ability to juggle all of his responsibilities.

"It takes a special person to do that, but he is very sharp. He can pick up details in a very short period of time and think through the process to get things done," Kuntz said. "He has a great work ethic and a passion for teaching and coaching, and it shows."

Cal Lutheran sophomore Taylor Will instantly felt at home at CLU after meeting Marino.

"He really welcomes you into the program with open arms," she said. "He got really excited during my recruiting trip and was happy about the fact players wanted to come to the school. He shows his interest for people and really loves showing people around the campus. He is just a really great person."

Despite balancing so much on his plate professionally and personally, Marino somehow manages to stay in the moment.

"I don't know how he does it all. I would be so stressed," Will said. "But he always has a smile on his face and acts like nothing bothers him most of the time. It's amazing."

Perhaps the best gauge of Marino's hectic schedule is the amount of wardrobe changes he makes during a day.

From slacks at Redwood in the morning to a purple-and-gold polo at CLU in the afternoon to blue-and-orange sweats at Westlake at night.

After racing home to spend time with his children before they go to bed, Marino grades papers and studies film of opponents until well after midnight only to wake up at 6:30 the next morning and repeat the cycle again.

But he isn't complaining, and has no plans to change his routine.

"I want to keep doing it as long as I keep enjoying it," Marino said. "Teaching and coaching is what I've always wanted to do since I was young, and I think if you are enjoying something and having success you should keep doing it if you can make it work."